Tension mechanism



LMLZEQI Mar. 6, 1923.,

J. O. MCKEAN TENSION MECHANISM Filed Apr. 18, 1922 2 sheets-sheet l A TTORNEYS LIMZSM Marr., 6, E923.

J. o. MCKEAN TENSI`ON MECHANISM Filed Apr. 18, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR /KAW Www/Mv A TTORNEYS JOHN 01 MUKEAN, OF WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQ'OR T0 FOSTER M ACHINE COMPANY,-F WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

TENSION MEcHAmsm.

Application filed April 18, 1922. Serial No. 555,121.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN O. MCKEAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Westfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful improvement in Tension Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

lt is a well known fact where the tension device does not move up and down with the traverse-bar on a vertical spooler, that the tension on the thread increases and decreases as the traverse-bar moves up and down, thereby producing a wound spool softer at the lower end than at the upper end.

It is very desirable that the spools should be wound with an even, constant or uniform tension on the thread, the entire length of the spool. Therefore, the object of my invention is to provide certain improvements in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts of a thread tension mechanism' for spool winding machines, in which the continuity of a uniform tension on the thread is provided for as the thread approaches and leaves the lower end of the winding spool, whereby the tension of the thread is distributed and the kinks removed, and whereby the thread contact surfaces 0f the tension devices are kept clean.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 represents my improved mechanism in side elevation as in use.

Fig. 2 represents a detail top plan view of the mechanism on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 represents a section taken in the plane of the line TV--IV of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The vertically disposed winding spool 1 and the horizontally disposed traverse bar 2 are carried by the frame 3 of a winding machine and they may be driven by any well known or approved means, not shown herein.

The bobbin and tension supporting bracket 4 is adjustably secured to the crossbar 5 of the machine, as for instance by the set screw 6. This bracket 4 has an arm 7 which forms a support for thebobbin 8,

and another arm 9 which is provided with a tension head 10, alon the narrow upper smooth elongated sur ace of which the thread passes under the tension devices to be hereinafter described, on its way from the bobbin 8 to the winding spool 1.

The tension head 10 is pivoted to the Afree end of the arm 9 of the bracket 4 by a bolt 11 for vertical adjustment. This head may have a suitable recess 12 which forms 'a -leading-in guide for the thread.

The tension washers 14 project considerably beyond both side edges of the thread contact face of the head and coact with the narrow face, to keep the same clean because of the high velocity of the thread passing between the washers and the narrow thread contactsurface of the head.

A threading guard 17 is carried by the tension head 10, a cap screw or bolt 17* being provided for removably securing the threading guard in its proper position. This guard 17 is pro-vided with arms 18 projecting over the tension weights 15 to prevent the accidental removal of the tension washers and weights. This guard is also provided with a laterally extended portion 19, forming a tension bar in the underside of which a shallow groove 20 is provided through which the thread passes as it leaves the narrow thread contact surface of the tension head.

A tension equalizing bar 21 is vertically adjustable in the shank of the head 10, a set screw 22 serving to hold the bar in its vadjusted position. This bar has a horizontal arm 23 terminating in a downwardl projecting end 24, which arm 23 is adS justed to engage the thread as the traverse bar 2 approaches and leaves the lower limit of its movement, to gradually increase and decrease the tension on the thread at this portion of the winding of the spool. In

other words, as the angularity of the path of the thread decreases with respect to the tension bar 19, due to the downward movement of the traverse-bar 2, the thread will be brought into engagement with the tension equalizing bar 21 at a point before the bottom of the spool is reached and thereafter a fixed angularity between the bar 21 and bar 19 is established, while the angularity of the path of the thread with respect to the tension equalizing bar toward the traverse-bar is gradually increased `as the traverse-bar completes its downward movement.

The positions of the. uprising pins 13 of the second tension device with respect to the thread guide recess 12 and groove 20 are such that the direction of the thread as it passes along the narrow thread contact, surface of the tension 10 is slightly changed as it passes from the first to the second pin and then again as it passes from the second pin to the groove 20.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided means whereby the tension on the thread is kept constant or uniform as the thread nears and leaves the lower end of the winding spool, said means being adjustable to get the best results.

By providing a narrow elongated thread contact surface and by extending the gravity operated tension washers beyond the side edges of said surface, I am enabled to keep the contact surface free and clear of all foreign matter. Also by locating the vertically arranged pins of the tension devices out of alinement with the thread guides at the opposite ends of said elongated narrow contact surface, I am enabled to cause the thread to pass in a crooked or multi-angular path along said surface, thus preventing any tendency of the thread to leave the path, and reducing materially the tendency of the thread to vibrate as it passes through the tension mechanism.

The subject matter shown and described, but not claimed herein, relating to the plurality of tension devices acting as a unit on a single thread, forms the subject matter of my co-pending divisional application filed August 2, 1922, Serial No. 579,155.'

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence I do not wish to limit myself to the particular embodiment herein represented, but

What I claim is:

1. A vertically arranged winding spool and its traverse-bai', a thread tension mechanism, and proximate-means which the thread engages for a portion of the reciprocating movement ot the traverse-bar as it approaches and leaves one limit of its movement, to gradually compensate for any increase and decrease of the tension on the thread, the thread tension mechanism and proximate means being located substantially on an alinement with the lower limit of the traverse movement.

2. A vertically arranged winding spool and its traverse-bar, a thread tension mechanism, and proximate means which the thread engages for a portion of the reciprocating movement of the traverse-bar as it approaches and leaves the lower limit of its movement, to gradually compensate for any increase and decrease of the tension on the thread, the thread tension mechanism and proximate means being located substantially on an alinement with the lower limit of the traverse movement.

A vertically arranged winding spool and its traverse-bar, a thread tension mechanism, and a proximate vertically adjustable bar which the thread engages for a portion of the reciprocating movement of the traverse bar as itapproaches and leaves the lower limit of its movement,`to gradually compensate for any increase and decrease of the tension on the thread, the thread tension mechanism and proximate vertically adjustable bar being located substantially on an alinement with the lower limit of the traverse movement.

4. A vertically arranged winding spool and its traverse-bar, a thread tension 'mechanism.including a fixed guide bar under which the thread passes as it leaves the tension mechanism, and a proximate vertically adjustable guide bar over which the thread passes and which the thread engagesfor a portion of the reciprocating movement of the traverse bar as it approaches and leaves the lower limit of its movement, to gradually compensate for any increase and decrease of the tension on the thread, the thread tension mechanism and proximate vertically adjustable guide bar belng located substantially on an alinement with the lower limit of the traverse movement.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this 25th day of March, 1922.

JOHN 0. MCKEAN. 

